Coyotes review: Justin Long stars in a very silly movie about when animals attack

Coyotes stars Justin Long and Kate Bosworth as a couple doing battle with a pack of rabid dogs, in a comedy-horror that leans into laughs rather than scares.

Coyotes concerns a very real problem facing the people of Los Angeles, and over the opening credits, that phenomenon is explained via news reports.

Thanks to a spate of wildfires, coyotes have been pushed deeper and deeper into LA neighborhoods, and these opportunistic predators are now doing whatever it takes to survive.

That’s the jumping off point for director Colin Minihan’s new horror movie, which addresses a serious subject, in the silliest way imaginable.

What is Coyotes about?

Aura Entertainment

Following a prologue that sees a Paris Hilton type mauled by one of the title characters, the story proper introduces a family living in the Hollywood Hills – Scott and Liv (played by real-life couple Justin Long and Kate Bosworth) and their teenage daughter Chloe (Mila Harris).

They seem happy, though have an apparent problem with rats in their beautiful home, which is revealed to them by an eccentric exterminator called Devon (Keir O’Donnell, channelling John Goodman in the similarly themed Arachnaphobia).

While they’re waiting for Devon to wipe the rodents out as a way of sending a message to all other vermin in the area, a storm arrives on their doorstep, knocking down trees, and killing their power. 

Which is when the coyotes appear, seeming vaguely threatening at first, before becoming more direct by growling, bearing their teeth, and then going on the attack. 

“I think it wanted to eat you” a confused Liv tells Scott during a particularly concerning coyote interaction, and as more of the rabid beasts congregate on their lawn, then try to get into their house, it becomes apparent that the family is facing a fight for their lives.

Wild animals vs wild characters

That story is told with its tongue firmly in cheek, as potential victims are painted in the broadest of brush-strokes, and oftentimes asking for the doggie assault that’s coming their way.

From the coked up neighbor and drunk Irishman in a shell-suit to the sex worker obsessed with conspiracy theories, Coyotes is filled with colorful characters that aren’t to be taken seriously.

Meaning each ultra-violent death is played for laughs, from a tragic barbecue demise to a shocking ribcage cameo, they’re memorable deaths, but the type that will inspire more laughs than scares.

That said, there are moments of levity in the movie, thanks to Liv’s issues with Scott’s workaholic tendencies. Indeed, his comic book career and obsession inspires some interesting visuals, character introductions, and jokes, but also threatens to tear his family apart.

Though every time Coyotes flirts with getting serious on that front, the script by Ted Daggerhart, Daniel Meersand, and Nick Simon undercuts the tension, most notably in a hilarious scene where Scott pours his heart out to a wife who can’t hear him.

Is Coyotes good?

Aura Entertainment

Coyotes is a fun film that delivers on the promise of wild dogs doing battle with dumb humans, while Justin Long – as ever – is a likeable lead, who has you rooting for his character, in spite of some truly terrible decisions.

But there’s a fatal flaw in many of those scenes, as the coyotes rarely look real. Indeed, there are times when the movie feels like live-action merged with bad animation, and all that computer-generated imagery frequently takes you out of the movie.

If audiences can put up with that issue however, the horror and comedy elements complement each other nicely, while Coyotes deserves bonus points for not demonising the coyotes themselves, thanks to a surprising sting in the tale/tail…

Coyotes score: 3/5

If you can ignore the bad CGI, and like a broad comedy about even broader characters, Coyotes is a decent entry in the ‘when animals attack’ genre, that manages to sneak in an important environmental message.

Coyotes was reviewed at Fantastic Fest, while the film hits theaters on October 3, 2025 courtesy of AURA Entertainment. While for more scary stuff, check out our list of the best horror movies ever.